How VP Stays Green and Your Association Can, Too!

At VP Demand Creation Services, we take great pride in our responsibility to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. As a commercial printer our responsibility to “go green” is magnified tenfold, because of the materials we work with and our general expectations. Any Association can use our practices and rules of thumb, so that they, too, are being environmentally responsible. Every small effort adds up into making a big difference.

Around the office…

While we have yet to begin an annual tree-planting tradition, as is the tradition on Arbor Day, we try to do our fair-share of recycling around here. Each week, our office staff – a team of about 60 – fills two 96-gallon American Waste containers. By the end of the year, that’s enough to fill an average family sized swimming pool. We keep our recycle bins easily accessible – in the break room, kitchens, and next to the printers – encouraging our team members to do their part with minimal effort as they go about their work day.

The Production team…

If you think our office staff is on top of their game, our production team recycles over 350,000 pounds of scrap paper and cardboard every year! This material is picked up in 40,000-pound shipments – the equivalent of a blue whale, or 8,530 boxes of Samoa Girl Scout Cookies per shipment. We also scrap an estimated 12,000 pounds of metal press plates per year, the equivalent to the weight of a standard UPS truck carrying your renewal pieces to your members.

The Bindery team and more…

We do more than just recycle to waste management facilities. Our bindery and production teams fill up supplied gaylords (a bulk-size corrugated pallet box) with the tail end of paper stock that cannot be run through the press and donate them to Goodwill. Prior to this practice, these scraps were getting unrolled and recycled. Now, we are able to help out a community member!

In addition, when our clients are disposing of their old fulfillment inventory, we work with local companies to donate what can be utilized and recycle the rest. Again, this is a way of letting our clients know that their old items are being recycled for a good cause within the community.

If sustainability is important to your association and you would like to increase your participation, here are some more ideas:

Devote time to organizing an event to clean up a local park or common area. Consider planning events on environmental-awareness holidays like Arbor Day and Earth day, or spend time on a regular schedule such as once a month. Track your recycling and sustainability efforts at these events and share a press release or newsletter with the results. When it comes to the office, try to encourage recycling and make bins as visible as possible. And make it a priority to get your members involved! Share an event on your social media platforms or send out an email blast inviting them to join in on these efforts. Send a book on sustainable practices to your members in relation to their particular industry, business segment, or favorite pastime. Go the extra mile and share it online!

“Use it up, wear it out, and make it do, or do without.” A phrase that began in the Great Depression is still holding value for VP Demand Creation Services. Share with us how your association is thinking green and committing to a more sustainable future.

*Photos courtesy of Kurt Bainbridge, Bindery

Article written by:

McKenzie Decker

Marketing Manager